Pope urges peace after US, Israel strikes on Iran

Pope Leo XIV has called for peace amid escalating Middle East conflict, urging all parties to abandon violence and pursue dialogue after reported US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory. Speaking during his Sunday Angelus message, the pontiff expressed serious concern about the unfolding crisis, warning that unchecked violence could lead to disaster for the region and beyond. "Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons that sow destruction," he stated, calling for "reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue." The Pope appealed to involved parties to assume moral responsibility to stop the violence before it becomes an "irreparable abyss." He expressed hope that diplomacy would regain its role in resolving tensions, emphasizing the need to promote peaceful coexistence based on justice. On Saturday, Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Tehran and other Iranian locations, triggering retaliatory attacks from Iran targeting Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military installations. Iranian state media later reported the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/03/01/pope-leo-xiv-urges-peace-amid-us-israel-strikes-on-iran/